Chimney-flue clean-out.



H. N. HOLDER. GHIMNBY FLUE CLEAN OUT. APPLICATION FILED rms. 2a. 1908.

906,427. Patented Dec. 8, 1,908.

UNTTET) STATES PATENT OFFTOE.

HUBERT N. HOLDER, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO J. HENRY CRANE, RECEIVER FOR THE NEW JERSEY STRUCTURAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CHIMNE Y-FLUE CLE AN-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, HUBERT N. HOLDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainiield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Chimney-Fine Olean-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a chimney flue clean-out comprising a door and frame of peculiar construction. Heretofore these clean out devices have each comprised a frame with lugs and a metal door hinged to the lugs by hinge pins so as to swing, the frame being provided with a latch engaging a nosing of the door. These metal doors were liable to rust and stick or adhere to the frames so that it was difficult to open the same they were also liable to warp out of shape so as not to effectually close the opening in the frame and hold within the chimney flue the ashes and soot, and the object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties.

ln carrying out my invention I employ a rectangular metal frame to be set within the brick-work opening of a chimney and said frame is provided with an all-round flange to come against the surface of the chimney. This frame is also provided with parallel upper and lower flanges at opposite sides of the opening in the rectangular frame, the flange coming at the lower portion of the opening being narrow and the flange at the upper and opposite side of the o ening formed much wider than the lower fange, and T provide angular ribs within the frame at opposite vertical surfaces thereof, which are spaced apart from the flanges of the frame a distance sufficient to provide for receiving between them a door member that is adapted to be slipped into position. This door member furthermore, is formed of a material that will not rust or warp and that consequently is not affected by heat, cold or dainpness, and when in position is sufficiently snug in its position to retain dust and soot within the chimney and which is yet easily removable for lifting out and conveying away the dust and ashes.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation at the lower portion of a brick chimney illustrating the device of my invention. f ig. Z is a vertical section about central of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. S'is a sectional plan at about the center of Figs. 1 and 2.

The brick-work of the chimney is represented at fu and the flue within the same at y.

The rectangular frame of metal which with its door comprises the subject of my invention, consists of a top part a, bottom part l) and sides c d; the opposite parts of which are parallel to one another. These parts are provided with beaded flanges a,1 b1 c1 and d1 at right angles thereto, which when the parts of the rectangular frame are set into an opening in the brick rest against the outer surfaces of the brick. The flange b1 is provided with a narrow internal flange 2 and the part al with a narrow but appreciably wider internal flange 3, which are prolongations in the same plane of the flanges al b1, and while the opening between the sides o d at the flanges ol d1 is at the full width, the opening between the top and bottom members a l) is narrowed b y the flanges 2 3.

The sides are provided with angularly formed ribs e f preferably integral with the cast metal of the rectangular frame. These ribs are preferably shorter than the height of the opening between the flanges l 3 to Jfacilitate drawing saine from the core in casting, and they are spaced apart from the inner surfaces of the flanges 2 3 with their adjacent vertical 'faces a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of the door member h wnicn 1s interposed and is held in position between these parts. This will be quite apparent from Figs. 2 and 3. This door member is preferably of a temperature and moisturerepelling material such as slate, or it may also have a non-breakable characteristic or it may be made of such material as asbestos composition. T prefer this latter' as it is comparatively light, is temperature proof and moisture proof and is substantially nonbreakable and of very lasting character. This is cut to a size slightly less than the width of the opening in the rectangular frame between the sides o (l and of a height slightly greater than the opening between the flanges 2 3 and in thickness less than the s ace between the inner surfaces of the fanges 2 3 and the adjacent vertical 'face of the ribs of, and il nefer to secure to the face of this door menfher a lift or pull member such as i, and by which the same is handled. In placing this door member in position in the rectangular frame the upper edge is passed'in beneath and is raised behind the flange 3 and between the same and the ribs and it is lifted into the frame over the e ge of the flange 2 and when bearing against the vertical faces of the ribs e f is dropped into position within the flange 2 and rests in that position and is supported as hereinbefore described.

This device is exceedingly simple and efficient and contains no parts to rust or warp or get out of order or make it difficult to remove the door.

These chimney flue clean-outs are usually located at the base of a chimney flue adjacent to the cellar floor and the ilues receive wood ashes or coal ashes from the open grate res in the rooms above, which it is necessary to periodically remove.

l claim as my invention:

1. A chimney flue clean out comprising a rectangular frame of metal adapted to set in an opening in a chimney having flanges forming the surface adapted to come against the outer face of the chimney, opposite inner edges of which are arranged to contract the entrance to the opening in the rectangular frame, a plate door member of greater height than said entrance opening, and projections on the opposite sides of the rectangular frame back of the entrance opening, whereby the plate door is passed into the entrance opening and deposited in a vertical position back of said edges and forward of the projections.

2. A chimney flue clean-out comprising a rectangular metal frame, all-round flanges at right angles thereto adapted to come against the outer face of the chimney While the frame itself fits within the opening in the chimney, oppositely placed flanges narrowing the opening in the rectangular frame and formed as continuations of the surface flanges in the same plane, ribs occupying a vertical position and formed within the opening. in the rectangular frame, with the sides thereof spaced apart from the aforesaid flanges, and a door member comprising a sheet or slab of suitable material of a Width to be received between the sides of the rectangular frame and of a height slightly greater than the opening between said flanges and adapted to be received Within the opening of said frame between the flanges and ribs.

3. A chimney flue clean-out com rising a rectangular metal frame, all-round anges at right angles thereto adapted to come against the outer face of the chimney while the frame itself fits within the opening in the chimney, oppositely placed flanges narrowing the opening in the rectangular frame and of varying width with the narrowest flange at the lower portion of the frame and the widest flange at the top of the frame and formed as continuations of the surface flanges in the saine plane, angular ribs occupying a vertical position and formed within the opening in the rectangular frame of a length less than the vertical depth of the opening between the flanges, with the sides thereof spaced apart from the aforesaid flanges, and a door member comprising a sheet or slab of suitable material of a width to be received between the sides of the rectangular frame and of a height slightly greater than the opening between said flanges and adapted to be received within the opening of said frame between the flanges and ribs.

Signed by me this 7th day of February 1908.

HUBERT N. HOLDER.

Vitnesses t ARTHUR H. SERRELL, BERTHA M. ALLEN. 

